About the Cool Beauty in My Class Declaring She Won’t Eat Anything Except My Bento - 26-27

Chapter 26: No Mention of It

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A gentle light felt from above my eyelids. I woke up to that morning sun.

“…………Eh?”

A sweet scent wafted up to me. The warmth of another person. For some reason, Ayano was on my lap, her arms wrapped around my back, hugging me. I couldn’t see her face. She was leaning her body against me, resting her head on my shoulder. Her beautiful black hair brushed against my cheek. The soft, feminine body pressed against me was uncomfortable for an adolescent high school boy.

(..What kind of situation is this?)

However, because it was so bizarre, I was actually able to stay calm, which was a help. It was the kind of situation where it wouldn’t have been strange to start getting the wrong idea…

“Hey, Ayano… wait, it would be bad if I woke her up.”

I thought about having her move so I could ask what had happened, but I had no idea what she would do if she woke up right now…

It was currently 7:00 AM on a Sunday. I had no school or part-time work, so I figured I would just relax until Ayano woke up.

(I hope she wakes up as soon as possible, though.)

I spent about twenty minutes wishing for that.

“Mnh…”

“Oh. Good morning, Ayano.”

“Mm… huh?”

“My Lady, it’s morning. Can you say your greeting?”

“Mnh… hweh, um… good mornin’…?”

“Correct. Good morning.”

“Hehe… correct. Good mornin’…”

Her consciousness didn’t seem to be fully awake yet. Although I could hear her voice, she stayed in that hugging position. Her stiff, cool aura had vanished in the face of sleepiness, or to put it another way, she had turned into a puddle.

“Good morning. I’ve received your greeting loud and clear, so would it be possible for you to move now?”

“Mmm… no.”

“No, huh…”

I couldn’t force her to wake up if Ayano told me no. I decided to wait a little longer.

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“Um…………”

While I was waiting and messing with my phone, I heard the voice of the “Cool Beauty.”

“Ah, you’re awake. For the time being, I’d be very grateful if you could move.”

“Y-you don’t have to tell me…………!”

Ayano hurriedly stood up and sat on the sofa. I felt like the distance between us was somewhat far, but I was relieved that she seemed to be capable of sound judgment again.

Goodness.

“So, um, if it’s alright, I’d like to ask why you were on top of me, Ayano… was I the cause?”

“Um… well, I suppose so?”

“…Should I get on my knees, or what do I need to do?”

“I-I don’t need that…! How about we make a deal where neither of us mentions it?”

“…………Did I do something while I was sleeping?”

That clearly sounded like something did happen, right?

“We’re not mentioning it…!”

“Ehh… I’d be saved too since I wouldn’t be able to say anything if you brought up what happened yesterday, but… is it really off-limits?”

“Absolutely not. If you try to say it, I’ll give a biased report about today to the class.”

“T-that would be quite a problem…”

“…I’ll forgive you in exchange for your breakfast, Kirihara-san.”

Ayano took advantage of the situation as if seizing the opportunity.

“That’s a very cheap price to pay.”

“It’s a blissful time for me, after all.”

Ayano’s face, which had been dyed red with embarrassment, softened into a smile. When she said something so heart-warming as if it were nothing, I lost the will to pursue the matter.

“Then I’ll prepare breakfast, so please make yourself at home. Ah, are you going back to your room for a bit? Since you unintentionally stayed the night…”

As I said it, the thought hit me again… thinking about Ayano having a sleepover at my place brought up a whole different kind of embarrassment.

“Since it’s a rare holiday, I’ll just spend it in my pajamas if it’s okay with you, Kirihara-san.”

“I don’t mind, but… once it gets bright out, you’ll have to go back to your room like that, you know?”

“…………That’s true.”

“Why don’t you head back for a bit? I’ll make breakfast in the meantime.”

I didn’t have work today, and I didn’t have a problem even if she stayed in all day, but it would be hard for Ayano to move around. Well, regardless of how much she trusted me, staying at a guy’s house forever probably wouldn’t feel great.

“…………Even though you wouldn’t let me go yesterday.”

However, Ayano rejected that idea and with the worst possible reasoning at that.

“Hey, what did I actually do…? So me hugging you this morning was…”

“No mentioning it.”

“But you’re the one who dug it up, Ayano.”

“It’s not good that you’re so unfair, Kirihara-san.”

“I want to hear about it, though.”

“Then I’ll be unfair too.”

She poked my cheek from behind. Her physical contact had clearly increased since yesterday, which was bad for my heart, but judging from the way she said it, it was possible that I was the one who started the hugging, so I couldn’t say anything back.

“…I’m going to touch you too, then.”

I put up at least a little resistance.

“You’re going to touch me?”

“…………Ayano, you’re unfair.”

“Hehe. I won’t lose except at night. Nighttime Kirihara-san is… incredible, so I can’t win.”

(Don’t say things in a way that people would misunderstand…!)

“Actually, it’s fine.”

“What is…?”

The topic suddenly changed, so I asked her to clarify.

“It’s fine, I’m not going back home.”

“But won’t that be a problem for you, Ayano…?”

“I’m going to spend the whole day with you today, Kirihara-san.”

When I reflexively looked back, Ayano was standing there with a bashful smile. Once she said that… I couldn’t deny her anything.

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Chapter 27: Being Treated Like a Kid

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“Pancakes, is it?”

While I was looking through the food pantry to prepare lunch, Ayano peeked in from behind me. I had just picked up a bag of pancake mix.

“Well… what do you think?”

“Ah, so you haven’t decided yet.”

“Since I’m with you, Ayano, I was wondering if there was something we could make together.”

“Please don’t treat me like a child.”

“But wouldn’t it be fun if we did it together?”

“…It’s not particularly ‘fun,’ though?”

“Being stubborn like that makes you look even more childish.”

“You really are making fun of me!!”

When I teased her a bit, she started drumming on my back. It didn’t hurt, but since I couldn’t resist when she used physical contact like that, I decided to leave it at that.

“Well, since we’re at it, let’s make pancakes. I don’t really make them when I’m alone.”

“You certainly buy a lot of mix for someone who doesn’t make them often.”

“That’s because I make cookies more frequently.”

“…It’s not good that your domestic skills are higher than mine.”

“Should we have a cooking class sometime?”

“Is that okay? Final exams are coming up soon, you know?”

“…After the finals, then.”

“Thank you. Since I have no choice, I’ll help you with your studies in return.”

As she said that, she poked my cheek instead of praising me. 

(Hasn’t the skinship clearly increased since yesterday?)

I turned around to see Ayano desperately stretching out her arm.

“Come to think of it, how tall are you, Ayano?”

“What is this, an insult about my height?”

When I asked out of pure curiosity, she glared at me as hard as she could. 

(Come to think of it, I feel like we had a similar conversation once before.)

“No, that’s not it. I just got curious because there’s such a big difference between us.”

“…I’ll take your word for it. Let’s see, according to the most recent measurement… I believe it was 147 centimeters.”

There was a difference of more than 20 centimeters between us… No wonder she looked childish despite having such a beautiful face. I thought it was only natural to feel the urge to cherish her like a small animal. I wasn’t exactly trying to justify myself, but of course one would want to pat her on the head. Once again, I didn’t intend to justify it, though.

“You really are making fun of me, aren’t you?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“It’s just the overall atmosphere.”

“Eh…?”

“You’re thinking I’m like a small animal, aren’t you?”

“How did you know?”

“See, I knew it.”

While talking, I took out several small pouches and handed them to Ayano. I took eggs and milk from the refrigerator and put everything into a bowl. And then..

“Here.”

I said, handing the whisk to Ayano.

“Can little Ayano-chan handle this?”

“Don’t call me ‘-chan,’ and don’t treat me like a child! I can at least manage the mixing!”

When I asked with a slightly mocking nuance in my tone, she began mixing with a huff that would have been perfectly suited for a “pouty” sound effect. At first, she mixed smoothly, blending everything together, but as it began to take shape and grow heavier, her movements slowed down due to a lack of strength.

“This is not my fault.”

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“It was a preemptive strike.”

“Ayano, your hands are slowing down.”

“So you did say it in the end!”

When I teased her again, she began whisking desperately.

…Her cool side had already started peeling away, but hadn’t it disappeared even more now?

While Ayano was working hard, I took out a frying pan, added butter, and turned on the heat. I didn’t intend to make anything elaborate. The mere fact that I made it with Ayano was enough to make it a little special.

After watching over her for a while…

“…Kirihara-san.”

“What is it, Ayano-kun?”

“This isn’t a surrender. It’s more like a strategic withdrawal. It’s not that it’s too difficult, I just thought it would be better if you did it, Kirihara-san.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

“…That’s a bad habit of yours.”

Despite her words, the batter was almost completely mixed. I couldn’t tell if it was because she worked hard or out of sheer stubbornness, or perhaps both. Finally, I gave it a light stir, scooped it with a ladle, and poured it into the pan. My style was to take small amounts and made several tiny circles.

Or rather, I learned that at my part-time job.

“…You’re doing all sorts of little tricks.”

“I just heated the pan and let it cool before pouring the batter.”

“Did you learn things like that at your job?”

“I suppose so. I used to practice making them, but I learned how to make them even more delicious at the shop.”

I laughed it off, adding that it only applied to things served at a cafe, though.

I finished the small pancakes one after another. I stacked three of them and drizzled honey over the top.

“Wow… They’re beautiful…”

“Here you go.”

I finished my own portion and sat down in the living room, and Ayano immediately speared one with a fork and brought it to her mouth.

“It’s so deliciooous…”

Seriously, where did the “cool” go?

“Glad to hear it.”

“…This is no good. I’m going to be treated like a child again.”

“You caught on well.”

“But don’t you think it’s the pancakes’ fault for being too delicious?”

“Don’t get shameless on me.”

“The thing is…”

I leaned in to listen to Ayano, who seemed about to change the subject.

“If you’re going to treat me like a child… Don’t you think it’s okay to do it even more?”

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